Gaza City workers have begun restoring the historic Pasha Palace Museum damaged during two years of fighting. Over 70% of the palace’s buildings were destroyed, and thousands of artefacts disappeared. UNESCO identified the palace among 114 damaged heritage sites across Gaza.
A dozen workers in high-visibility jackets manually cleared sand, rubble, and crumbling mortar from the fortress. Stones are being sorted for reuse, while damaged debris is discarded. Israeli drones monitored the site, making work unsafe before the ceasefire.
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Material shortages remain a major challenge, according to Issam Juha of the Centre for Cultural Heritage Preservation. Aid trucks can now enter Gaza under strict Israeli vetting after a US-brokered ceasefire in October. Workers resumed excavations carefully, salvaging stones and fragile artefacts.
Cultural experts say the palace represents the memory and identity of the Palestinian people. Over 17,000 artefacts were lost, but teams have recovered 20 items from Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic eras. The restoration focuses on stones, decorative calligraphy, and historic architectural elements.
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Gaza’s heritage spans thousands of years, including Canaanite, Egyptian, Persian, and Greek civilizations. The work aims to preserve the palace for future generations while salvaging any remaining artefacts. Experts say the project is essential to protect Palestinian history and culture.